Step.



Patented Feb. Il, |902. C. H. LEMON.

STEP. ion med .my 11,1091.) v

(A'pplicat (No Model.)

1 www I @ma imm@ GEMM @MM @m3511362 @mmm u u u E n g www@ www @we Mmmmwww @DMW M5333@ @mi imm MMC @DMW CND I l V NTTn STATES PATENT rrrcr.

CHARLES H. LEMON, OF MILVAUKEE, VISCONSIN.

STEP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 693,037, dated February11, 1902. I

Application filed July 1'7, 1901.

To cir/ZZ whom. it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. LEMON, residing at Milwaukee, in thecounty of Mil- Waukee and State of WVisconsin, have invented a new anduseful Improvement in Steps, of which thefollowing is a description,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which are a part ofthis specification.

My invention has relation to improvements in steps, being particularlyuseful as a vehicle-step, although not necessarily restricted to-thatapplication, inasmuch as it may be employed to advantage wherever a stepmay be required.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a simple andinexpensive construction which shallbe a secure safeguard against thefoot tripping or slipping on the step,which, as is well known, oftenresults in a serious accident, particularly in the' case of streetcarsand cars of railroad-trains.

Vith the above primaryobject in view the invention consists of thedevices and parts or their equivalents, as hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a plan view of my improvedstep. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view, and Fig. 3 is atransverse sectional view.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 4 indicates the bordering frame,which may be of any desirable form, but preferably of thesubstantiallyrectangular form shown. The corners of the outer side ofthis frame are preferably rounded, as shown in the drawings, and saidframe has a substantial crossarea or width, and from its inner side andat a desired distance below its top edge extend therefrom horizontalflanges 5. These flanges are only necessarily required to extend fromthe outer and inner sides of the frame, but aS a matter of conveniencemay be continued so as to extend inwardly also from the ends of theframe, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, thereby making acontinuous fiange projecting from the inner faces of the four sides ofthe frame. Extending across the frame and having their ends resting uponthe flanges of the front and rear portions of said frame are dat stripsor plates 6. The upper edge of each of these plates is serrated orformed with a series of projections 7, preferably of rounded form. Theseserrations or Serial No. 68,595. (No model.)

projections advisably project slightly above the plane of the top edgeof the frame, forming a firm hold for the foot of a person mounting thestep and greatly reducing the danger of slipping either transversely orlongitudinally of the strips. These strips or plates are spaced apart bymeans of spacing blocks or washers S. I prefer to make these washers ofglobular or circular form, so as to prevent as much as possible the stepbecoming clogged up with accumulations or dirt, ice, snow, dac. Theirrounded formation of course tends to cause the dirt or otheraccumulations to slip thereoif, and they furthermore present but aminimum of surface upon which said dirt or accumulations can lodge. Thedat plates and the interposed spacing-blocks are held firmly together bymeans of longitudinal tie-rods 9, which rods pass through openings inthe plates and registering openings in the spacingblocks. The ends ofthese rods extend through the ends cf the frame, and their extremitiesare threaded to receive thereon locking-nuts, as shown. By turning thesenuts it is evident that the parts can be tightly drawn together.

It may sometimes be found desirable to turn the spacing-blocks by handin order to loosen and dislodge any dirt which by any possibility mayhave accumulated on the blocks or which may have settled in the spacesbetween said blocks and the fiat strips or plates. I therefore preferthat the openings of the spacing-blocks through which the tie-rods passbe large enough to provide for this turning by application to the blocksof sufficient force to overcome the resistance offered by the clampingaction thereagainst of the liat stri ps or plates.

these flanges so narrow the spaces between the plates as to render itimpossible for the heel or any part of the shoe to get into said spaces,and thereby cause the tripping of a person. I prefer that the upperedges of these flanges shall be slightly below the upper edges of theserrations or projections 7. It said ilanges extended upwardly lush withthe upper edges of the projections referred to, the shoe of a personmounting the step would be likely to come squarely in engagement withthe Ilange and possibly result in turning the spacingwasher, and therebyproduce a slipping and defeating the very object which it is thefunction of said flanges to accomplish. Where a frame of the particularformation shown in the drawings is employedthat is to say, a frameprovided with the rounded front corners-I prefer that the ends of theoutermost or front tie-rod shall be bent downwardly and through theflanges 5 rather than to extend through the rounded corners of theframe, as convenience in construction is thereby proinoted.

In order t'o strengthen the frame, I prefer to employ one or morebrace-rods 11. These rods extend transversely of the frame, and theiropposite ends are bent upwardly and pass through the flanges 5 from theunder sides of the flanges and are upset upon the upper sides of saidflanges. The parts of the complete step of course are advisably made ofstrong metal, although any other desirable material may be employed, ifpreferred.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I provide a mostsimple and cheap form of step well adapted for use generally, butespecially adapted as a car or vehicle step and of such constructionthat the danger of accident from slipping or tripping is reduced to theminimum.

What I claim as my invention isl. In a step, the combination of a frameprovided upon opposite inner sides with inwardly-extending horizontalflanges, ilat plates or strips having their ends resting upon theopposite flanges, spacing blocks or washers between the plates, andmeans for securing the plates and the spacing-blocks together.

2. In a step, the combination of a frame provided upon opposite innersides with inwardly extending horizontal flanges, flat plates or stripshaving their ends resting upon the opposite flanges, spacing blocks orwashers between the plates, and arranged on a plane below the upperedges of the plates, and means for securing the plates and thespacing-blocks together.

3. In a step, the combination of a frame provided upon opposite innersides with inwardly extending horizontal flanges, illat plates or stripshaving their ends resting upon the opposite flanges, the upper edges ofsaid plates being roughened or serrated, spacing blocks or washersbetween the plates, and means for securing the plates and thespacing-blocks together.

4. In a step, the combination of a frame provided upon oppositeinnersides with inwardly extending horizontal flanges, ilat plates or stripshaving their ends resting upon the opposite flanges, spacing blocks orwashers between the plates, lsaid blocks or washers being of circularform, and means for securing the plates and washers together.

5. In a step, the combination vof a frame provided upon opposite innersides with inwardly extending horizontal ilanges, dat plates or stripshaving their ends resting upon the opposite llanges, spacing-blocksbetween the plates, and tie-rods passing through registering openings inthe plates and blocks, and having their ends securedto the frame.

6. In a step, the combination of a frame provided upon opposite innersides with inwardly extending horizontal llanges, flat plates or stripshaving their ends resting upon the opposite flanges, spacing-blocksbetween the'plates, and means for adjustably clamping said plates andspacing-blocks together.

7. In a step, the combination of a frame provided upon opposite innersides with inwardly extending horizontal flanges, ilat plates or stripshaving their ends resting upon the opposite ilanges, spacing-blocksbetween the plates, tie-rods passing through registering openings in theplates and blocks, and having their ends passing through the frame, andnuts on the threaded extremities of the rods and providing a means foradjustably clamping the plates and interposed spacingblocks together.

8. In a step, the combination of a frame provided upon opposite innersides with inwardly extending horizontal flanges, ilat plates or stripshaving their ends resting upon the opposite flanges, spacing-blocksbetween the plates, means for securing the plates and the washerstogether, and filling-pieces extending above the spacing-blocks, andnarrowing the spaces between two of the plates.

9. In a step, the combination of a frame provided upon opposite innersides with inwardly extending horizontal flanges, flat plates or stripshaving their ends resting upon the opposite flanges, turnablespacing-blocks between the plates, and means for holding the plates andspacing-blocks together.

10. In a step, the combination of a frame provided upon opposite innersides with inwardly extending horizontal flanges, flat plates or stripshaving their ends resting upon the opposite langes, spacing blocks orwashers between the plates, and tie-rods passing through registeringopenings in the plates and blocks, and having their extremities securedto the frame, the spacing-blocks being mounted on the rods so as to becapable ot'v turning thereon.

l1. In a step, the combination of a frame provided upon opposite innersides with inwardly extending horizontal ilanges, llat plates orstripshaving their ends resting upon the opposite flanges, spacing blocks orwash- IOO IIO

my 693,037 3 ers between the plates, said blocks or washtherearound witha projecting flange, said ers being of circular form and provided eachange being disposed on a Vertical plane and with a flange projectingoutwardly therefrom narrowing the space between two of the plates, I 5

and narrowing the space between two of the and means for securing theplates and the 5 plates, and means for securin g the plates andspacing-blocks together.

the spacing-blocks together. In testimony whereof I affix my signature12. In a step, the combination of a frame in presence of two witnesses.provided upon opposite inner sides with in- CHARLES H LEMON wardlyextending horizontal flanges, flat lo plates or strips having their endsresting upon Witnesses:

the opposite flanges, turnable spacing blocks A. L. MORSELL, or washersbetween the plates and provided I ANNA V. FAUST.

